Back in the deep dark days of the pandemic, Bayern Munich played a game versus FC Barcelona that shook the footballing world to its core. Not since Brazil 1-7 Germany had a major team been so thoroughly humiliated on the global stage. Compounding this was the fact that, deep in the grips of global self-isolation, no other sport was on TV for anyone to watch. For a time, this was THE story if you were a sports fan.
So, how did our very own website, Bavarian Football Works, react to the game as it happened?
In around 2021, SB Nation changed its commenting system, meaning that if you go back to the old articles you won’t find anything there. However, I personally kept the comments of the original gamethread on my laptop and have them here to share for everyone.
Here is what it was like to be a Bayern/Barca fan on such an insane day.
Pregame nerves
It started inauspiciously, with the pregame ritual going terribly wrong. Note the number of exclamation marks.
Yes, that is what the comments section used to look like. Then we had an intruder!
Plenty of nerves on display. People remember the game as a one-sided bashing but that is NOT what anyone predicted. Fans were incredibly nervous at the time. We were in the trenches.
Lineups dropped and people were … confused
Feels strange now, but many wanted Kingsley Coman to start this game. Ivan Perišić was on loan at Bayern at the time, and his presence on the starting XI was a baffling choice by Hansi Flick. Of course there is a reason why Hansi won a treble, because this was the game that cemented the Croatian’s legacy.
Storytime
H-Hansi? Is that you?
The goals started coming, and the reactions were mixed
Massive cheers when Thomas Müller opened proceedings.
Followed by sheer disbelief at the Alaba own goal.
We sort of gave into despair quite rapidly.
Thankfully Ivan came to the rescue.
Gnabry shortly afterward.
Then when Müller scored we got our mojo back.
2020 was really a different time. Look at these blue comments.
Some specific players got praise.
The job wasn’t done yet
People really underestimate how nervous everyone was. The team played with pure swagger but the fans, well …
Then came the second half
You know it’s a Flick team when …
Then came the second Barcelona goal. It was a nuke for our fragile psyches.
Then we had that Davies moment. Seriously, if anyone still doubts Alphonso Davies today, remember that he gave us one of the best assists by a Bayern Munich player in the Champions League. Look, no one is even mentioning Kimmich.
Then after that goal, Hansi Flick subbed on Coutinho.
Lewandowski scored after this. We were happy, it was the usual. Then the most beautiful thing possible happened.
Postgame reactions
You had to be there. This was it. People mention the CL final against PSG and sure, that was where Bayern Munich officially won the title, but this is where we KNEW. This is the game that sealed that team in all time infamy.
That’s all, folks!
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